EXPLORING PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES OF "GOOD GOVERNANCE": IMPLICATIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN POKOT, UGANDA

Abstract

Good governance has been projected as an essential dimension of economic and social transformation. While democratic good governance proposes valuable standards for effective governance, other culturally informed notions of good governance from developing countries, are often disregarded. The premise of this thesis is that there are different notions of good governance and these differences if not harmonized, are likely to hinder the attainment of "good governance"as defined by the state and informed by the Bretton Woods Institutions.A historical account of formal governance in Uganda demonstrates how colonialism and its legacy have defined the form and quality of governance in Uganda, determining the relationship between the state and citizens and their respective roles in governance. This coupled with modernist development theorists, who suggested that modernization is best achieved if tradition is discarded, framed an understanding of development that has had far reaching effects on the understanding of development and governance in post-colonial Uganda.! chose to carry out an exploratory study in Pokot, northeastern Uganda where the traditional governance system is still vibrant and not significantly influenced by external factors such as modernization. Though there was very limited literature on Pokot I carried out a desk research to generate my secondary data. Using a qualitative research approach, I employed participatory tools to collect my primary data and used non-probability sampling to identify specific resource persons knowledgeable about the Pokot and state-run governance systems. Using Case-oriented understanding I analysed the information generated from a total of 91 key informants representing the community, state and civil society. The findings revealed differences regarding the genesis of the governance systems, procedures and practices of governance. Limited understanding of each system caused a lack of confidence in the intent and capacity of each to deliver on the promise of "good governance". Similarities inprinciples and values highlighted opportunities for synergy and harmonization of perceptions. If recognized and harnessed, the traditional governance system could potentially provide a firm foundation for constructing locally-rooted democratic governance mechanisms and enhancing the much needed civic action in a democratic milieu.